CubCrafters has come to
Lakeland, this year, to introduce the first production CC11-100
SPORT CUB.
SPORT CUB N503CR has a standard empty weight of 825 pounds;
contains advanced weight saving and strengthening composites
throughout; nad has a 4" wider cabin than any original Cub as well
as a stow-away rear seat. A modern panel and avionics suite adorns
the aircraft which has been built in a state-of-the-art CNC machine
factory and tested to the same rigid requirements, protocols,
and quality assurance as their FAR Part 23 TOP CUB. It is also
displayed in an all new paint scheme, scheduled to be the first of
many new SPORT CUBs soon to roll off their production line and into
customers’ hands.
Company president and owner Jim Richmond, SPORT CUB Program
Manager Don Johnston, and the entire CubCrafters team are
justifiably proud. Richmond commented “I want to thank our
customers for their patience. We not only hope that the wait has
been more than worth it, but with this SPORT CUB we have also
fulfilled our promise to the Light Sport aircraft market by
delivering a truly “all new” airplane. We certainly
have a lot of new SPORT CUBs yet to build, but as of today, we are
now officially in serial production and we are sharply focused on
many more SPORT CUB deliveries in the coming months.”
Johnston echoed comments he made very early in SPORT CUB’s
development: “SPORT CUB is a complete new design - spinner to
tailwheel - that retains the gentle flight characteristics of the
legendary aircraft that inspired the light-sport category but
vastly improves all the other components versus any past or present
airplane. Now everyone can see what we have known and planned for
all along; nearly every major part of SPORT CUB – the
fuselage, wings, cockpit, panel, interior, seats, cowling, fuel
system and so on – has been designed new for substantial
improvements in safety, performance, materials and
construction.”
Repeating a common customer comment, “None of our
confirmed SPORT CUB deposit holders want a 50-year-old reproduction
airplane. With SPORT CUB, our customers will certainly get the
legacy of the iconic airplane, but in a modern, safe, well-equipped
airplane that represents true forward thinking. We certainly looked
to history for inspiration, but we are leaving the conventional
wisdom of antiquated design, construction and materials behind in
the new SPORT CUB.”
CubCrafters debuted the prototype SPORT CUB at Oshkosh in early
August of 2005 and it will deliver the first customer SPORT CUB
later this month. Since the debut of the SPORT CUB prototype,
CubCrafters will have delivered 20 FAR Part 23 certified TOP CUBs
and more than 40 completely rebuilt PA-18 Super Cubs; plus
continuous parts manufacture supporting the existing Super Cub
fleet. CubCrafters Vice President Todd Simmons added, “Each
of our businesses – TOP CUB, SPORT CUB, and Super Cub –
benefit from the others. Our debut of the first production SPORT
CUB today is just the latest accomplishment that we will proudly
add to our well-earned reputation of the past 26 years.”